Outpouring overwhelming

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, December 13, 2004

Daily News photos/DANIELLE RAPPAPORT

Bob Roberson, a volunteer from First United Methodist Church, climbs into the back of a truck to reach the remaining gifts in a load being dropped off at Blessed Sacrament Church Monday morning for VAC Sharing Tree Distribution Day. It takes about 400 volunteers five hours to get all the gifts distributed to the various agencies. This year the Sharing Tree had just under 12,000 gift requests.

Blessed Sacrament Church was filled Monday with more than 300 volunteers posing as Santa's elves. Nearly 12,000 brightly papered packages were taken from area Sharing Trees and trucked over to be checked and passed out. Agencies gathered them up and will make deliveries to people who need a little extra holiday help this year.

"The outpouring is great," said Pat Pashak, community program director at the Voluntary Action Center, which has hosted the program for 24 years. "The generosity of this community is overwhelming."

Many of the bags and boxes being bundled were filled with far more presents than were requested. A person in need of assistance paying for winter propane asked for a $25 gift certificate, but will get $300. A father who asked for movie tickets for his family will get more than a hundred dollars' worth.

The Caregiving Network, which requested pots and pans to help set up new homes for victims of domestic violence, was given 60 sets by one gift-giver.

"This year has been great," said Faye Butler, who was gathering the gift requests for the Christian-based Caregiving Network on Grove Street. The agency supplies food and household items, help with rent and utilities and other services to people in crisis. "They're your basic things, nothing fancy," she said.

Along with gifts for specific requests, many of the agencies count on the Sharing Tree to provide things that they can give to clients all year long.

Midland Community Cancer Services asks for things that can help families dealing with cancer. Dow Gardens gift certificates can bring relaxation and exercise. Restaurant certificates can save money for a family traveling to treatment. Some also give something extra special.

"The people filling requests sometimes give a little, encouraging note," said Peg Gilstead, who works at the agency. "Maybe they've gone through cancer, or someone in their family has."

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There still are needs to be met though the Sharing Tree. Tags for community gifts can be picked from trees at Kmart, Wal-Mart or the Midland Mall until Dec. 31. Gifts can be returned to the mall's customer service office, or to the Voluntary Action Center at the Strosacker Center. Monetary gifts to fill personal wishes that have not been chosen also are being accepted. For more information, contact the VAC at 631-7660.